It is hard to express my feelings about being here in Jerusalem. My senses are about to explode with the sights, sounds and smells that I have experienced. For example at the Dung Gate yesterday, I saw these families celebrating a Bar Mitzvah, young soldiers waiting to take an oath to protect their country at their country’s most holy site, drummers, saxophones. It was a very emotional experience. Later in the shuk, smelling food cooking, people trying to barter their wares, seeing fruits, herbs, all kinds of religious items. No picture does this justice nor my attempt to describe it. 

Today I met with an American who married an Israeli, has two daughters and is an Israeli citizen. She described herself as left wing and I said I was too. Then she asked me if being in Israel has changed my feelings. I took a deep breath and realized they had. I answered I am more right than I was when I came.  She acknowledged she felt the same. We talked a lot about why this was so. I described what I saw in the West Bank, about being on the Lebanese  order and close to Gaza. I am not going to be able to write down all my thoughts. I hope when I get home I will be able to talk more. I am ready to come home.